New awards recognize faculty research, scholarship

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Four new Distinguished Scholar Awards have been established by the committee on faculty research and the office for the advancement of scholarship and teaching (OAST).

Kerry Powell (English), chair of the committee, said the awards offer a major new form of faculty recognition. "They are intended to provide recognition for outstanding research in the same way that our existing awards for teaching reward outstanding accomplishment in the classroom."

Three of the awards are available to faculty who have demonstrated a substantial and continuing record of outstanding scholarly or creative work. One is available to those in the humanities and fine arts, one in the applied and natural sciences, and one in business, education and the social sciences.

A fourth award is reserved for an emerging scholar, selected from the university at large, who has demonstrated great potential in research or artistry. Candidates for this award must have received their highest degree no more than eight years prior to the time of nomination. Powell said this award is especially important. "There are not as many opportunities for this type of recognition to faculty in the early stages of their careers."

Each recipient will receive a grant of $2,000 for the pursuit of further research or creative endeavor.

OAST annually provides a number of significant awards. According to OAST acting director Douglas Taylor, university support to faculty last year included 14 grants for faculty research, 23 faculty summer research appointments and 10 graduate research assistants provided to faculty for research assistance.

Nominations may be made by any tenured or tenure-track faculty member. The deadline for this year’s awards is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28. For more information or nomination forms, contact OAST, now located in Bonham House, 9-3734.